Garment holder



Aug. 26, 1930. IR. s scoTT 1,773,873

GARMENT HOLDER Filed Oct. 21, 1929 INVENTOR: Ros YvCF L g S uCL' BY W47,

3 w b ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 26, 1930 UNETE-D STATES ROSSITER S. SCOTT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GARMENT HOLDER Application filed October 21, 1929.

This invention is a' novel garment holder, and relates more particularly to a detachable fastening means cooperating with an elastic or other fabric b'a-n'd constituting a portion of any garment such as a garter, girdle, belt,

band or strap. The invention is in one aspect an improvement on' the holder disclosed in my prior application filed March 31, 1928, Serial Number 266,314, patented February In said prior application, I have disclosed a garment holder in which the clasp plate is substantially rectangular in outline and with squared ends, whereas in the present inven- 16 tion I provide a clasp plate which has a par ticular elongation at one end, and which, by reason of certain characteristics, contributes substantially to the utility and desirability of the garment holder. Among the objects of the invention more particularly are to improve the structure and efficiency of garment holders of the class referred to,a'nd to increase the comfort and service thereof; to provide an improved clasp plate for use with a relatively wide fabric band or strap, the clasp late being narrower than the band; to provide such a clasp plate which will more firmly grip the fabric band, and through which the band may be more ea'silythreaded and adjusted; and to provide such a clasp plate which will maintain the free end of the band closely against that portion of the body on which the garment holder is worn.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, so as to be apparent to those conversant with the subject. To the attainment of these objects and advantages, the present invention consists in the novel garment holder, fastening means, or clasp plate, and the novel features of combination, arrangement and structure, hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the drawings,

5 and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Serial No. 401,124.

Fig. 2 is a face view or front elevation of the improved clasp plate per se.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the clasp plate showing the fabric band threaded through the openings therein.

Fig. 4' is a view similar to 2 of an alternative construction of clasp plate.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the improved garment holder comprises a relatively wide fabric band 10 of elastic or other suitable material having at one of its ends a pad 11 carrying a headed stud 20, and having its other or free end 12 finished in any suitable manner. Near the free end of the band 10 is a clasp plate 13 which is adapted to cooperate with the pad 11 to hold the band ends attached, for example by the stud 20 on the pad and a stud engaging portion of the plate.

As best shown in F 2 the claspplatc 13 may preferably be formed, as by stan'ip'ing, from sheet metal, as brass, which may be flat or slightly curved. The plate is shown in the configuration of an irregular pentagon.

It comprises a marginal or outline portion 14 and an inner clasping portion 15, said portions being connected together by narrow crossbars 16 adjacent the opposite longitudinal edges of the plate. The outline portion 14 includes parallel side bars 17 which are connected together at one end by a transverse bar 18, but at the other end are con- I nected by converging bars 19 constituting a V-shaped elongation or extension of the plate. While the specific form of engaging means may be varied, that shown in the drawing comprising the stud 20 and an opening 21 in the inner clasping portion 15 of the plate 13. Said opening 21 is preferably tapered so that at one end it is large enough to admit of the passage of the head of the stud 20, whereas its other end is narrower and adapted partly to embrace the body of said stud below the head.

Theoutlines of the inner clasping portion 15' of the plate and of the outer marginal portion 14 are such as to enclose two fabric passages 23 and 24, respectively disposed at opposite ends of the clasp plate. The passage 23 is substantially U-shaped and relatively short, while the passage 2t, continues into the clasp plate extension 19 and. is substantially V-shaped and considerably longer than the passage 23. Formed integral with the converging bars 19 of the marginal portion of the plate are inward projections or lugs 25 which extend slightly into the V-shaped opening 24 and which serve cll'ectively to hold and contine the fabric band in a manner which will later be apparent.

As shown in Fig. l, the fabric band i0 is considerably wider than tl'ic clasp plate 1.3, with the result that when the plate assembled with the band, the band will be contracted as indicated at 22' where it passes up through the U-shape opening 253, and a; where it passes down tl ollgh the (kill The tree end 12 ot the band is threaded through the U-shap cpcrnng 253,

thence over the central claspi g portion 15 and the connecting bars 16, and thence reversely through the V-shaped opening 2i and the fabric is so disposed that the adjacent edge portions of the band lie below the inward projections W here the fabric overlies the clasping portion 15 of the plate, it Will have a slight convexity as indicated at 28, but the ends of the 'espcctive passages 23 and 24 are such as to allow the material to be disposed without injurious wrinkling or excessive bulging.

The tapered end of the clasp plate 13, which is defined by the juncture of the converging bars 19, extends a suiiicient distanc away from the convex portion of the fabric to function as a handle by means of which the connection and disconnection of the clasp plate with the pad stud may be readily of fected. Furthermore, the feature of having said tapered end extenrli a tuther r, tance from the central clasping portion 15 than does the transverse bar 118 altords an elongated extension to passage 24!- aud so facilitates the threading down of the free end '12 of the band through the passage 24, in the process of manufacture. lVhen the garter is in use, this tapered end ot the plate. by virtue of its greater length, also assists in holding the free end 12 of the band more flatly against that portion of the body which the band encircles.

The neat and advantageous disposition of the band at all points is very clearly illus trated in Figs. 1 and 3. No great extent of the length of the fabric is (tonlincd by the cross bars 16 because of the narrow width of these bars. The fabric therefore is able to take a natural position as regards the excess material at the two sides of each crossbar, and from this it will be evident that the fabric at this point is recurved with respect to its curvature at 28 so as to present an outwardly concave disposition of the excess matcrial at 29 and 30. This is important since it not only enhances the appearance of the complete device, but it increases its wearing qualities as well as adding to the comfort of the wearer.

The added length of the ii-shaped opening 24 and the improved disposition of the fabric facilitate adjustment of the hand through the clasp plate to ch nge the length, because there is provided a longer fabric loop by which the band may be picked out from the plate and pulled along inwardly or outwardly as the case may be.

hen a clasp plate of the above described characteristics is employed with a wide tabric band, there is a natural lay or disposition ol" the fabric at all points, so that the labric does not become unduly bunched or formed in distinct folds. This important result is due partly to the tact that the longitudinal extent of greatest rcsriction reduced to a minimum by the narrow width of the cross are ill which permit the iabric to be expanded directly be= yond the cross bars to its full width and with a reverse curvature, and thus obviating inel'li cient and unsightly congestion of tne fabric at any point. The alternative term of clasp plate l3 shown in Fig. l has a inodilied shape 01' clas ping portion 15, wherein the stud head is entered in recess 21" and may slip through into the smaller recess 21", where it is more safely held. The throat between the recesses may be narrow enough to compel the stud shank to be snapped through for greater security, but a snug sliding action is preferred. The changed shape of portion 15 changes somewhat the contour of passages 23 and 2%, the incurved ends of the latter giving a better disposition of the fabric.

As inmy above identilied earlier application, the inner clasping portion 15 or the clasp plate is surrounded to the maximum extent by fabric and connected to the outer marginal portion letby a minimum amount ol metal consistent with strength. The fabric which overlies said inner clasping portion to tends to bear upon the head of the stud 2t) and to minimize the liability oi? accidental disengagement alter the stud has been entered in the large end of the slot or opening 21 and allowed to move down into the en all end, :indi :ated in .l ig. l. is has already been pointed out, the ll1C"C2lSi3(l length of the V- shaped opening greattial thrcading-through of the free end 12 of ly facilitates the inithe fabric and band, and at the same time it 'lacihtates ad ustment of the clasp plate upon the band by reason oil the iact that a greater amount of outwvardl convolved material is available at 28. This adjustment may quiclc ly and easily be ciicctcd merely picking up the fabric at the convex portion 28 to the desired extent, and then pulling the fabric through one or the other of the passages 28 or 2 1 to alter the adjustment, and then reverscly through the other passage, finally tucking it under the lugs 25. The tapered end of the clasp plate formed by the convergence of the bars 19 constitutes a substantial handle portion, by means of which the clasp plate may be held while the above mentioned adj ustn'ients are being made, and for connecting and disconnecting the clasp plate with the clasp pad 11.

When used as a garter the present invention may be employed for convertible garter purposes as explained in my copending application filed simultaneously herewith, Serial No. 401,123.

There has thus been described a garment holder, exemplified by a garter, applying the principles and attaining the advantages of the present invention. Since many matters of combination, arrangement and structure may be variously modified without departing from the principles it is not intended to limit the invention to such matters except so far as se forth in the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A garment holder comprising a fabric band carrying a clasp plate extending longitudinally of the band and having a tapered longitudinal extension at one end, and formed with an outline portion, an inner clasping portion and cross bars centrally connecting them, leaving a U-shaped fabric passage at one end, and at the other end a fabric passage continued into the extension.

2. A garment holder comprising a fabric band carrying a clasp plate extending longitudinally of the band and having a tapered longitudinal extension at one end, and formed with an outline portion, an inner clasping portion and cross bars centrally connecting them, leaving a U-shaped fabric passage at one end, and at the other end a fabric passage continued into the extension, with opposite lugs under which the fabric may be confined.

8. A garment holder having a wide fabric band carrying a narrow clasp plate, said clasp plate being substantially flat and rigid, and of less width than length, and formed with an outer outline portion which is tapered at one end, an inner clasping portion of greater longitudinal than transverse dimension, and two thin crossbars connecting the outer and inner portions at the two sides, leaving a relatively long V- shaped fabric passage at the tapered end, and a shorter U-shaped fabric passage at the other end, and the fabric band at its contracted portion extending lonitudinally through the U-shaped passage, thence over said bars and inner portion, and reversel'y through the V-shaped passage in an outwardly convex contour, while the excess fabric at each side of the cross bars lies recurred in an outwardly concave contour.

4. A garment holder having a Wide fabric band carrying a narrow clasp plate, said clasp plate being substantially flat and rigid,

and of less width than length, and formed with an outer outline portion which is tapered at one end, an inner clasping portion of greater longitudinal than transverse dimension, and two thin crossbars connecting the outer and inner portions at the two sides, leaving a relatively long V-shaped fabric passage at the tapered end, and a shorter U- shaped fabric passage at the other end, the outline portion being provided with a pair of opposed inward projections extending into the V-shaped opening, and the fabric band at its contracted portion extending longitudinally through the U-shaped passage, thence over said bars and inner portion, and rei'ersely through the V-shaped passage in an outwardly convex contourand under said inward projections, while the excess fabric at each side of the cross barslies recurved in an outwardly concave contour.

5. A garment holder comprising a fabric band having a clasp pad attached to one of its ends and an adjustable clasp plate adjacent to its other end, said clasp plate being substantially flat and being of less width than length, and being characterized by an inner clasping portion, a surroundingmarginal portion which is tapered at one end, and cross bars connecting said inner and n'iarginal portions at the two sides, leaving a relatively short U-shaped fabric passage at one end and a longer V-shaped fabric passage at the other end, the marginal portion being provided with inward projections extending into the V-shaped opening, and the fabric band being threaded first through the U- shaped opening, thence over the cross bars and inner clasping portion, and thence reversely through the V-shaped opening in an outwardly convex contour, the edges of the fabric band being disposed beneath and gripped by said inward projections in the V-shaped opening.

6. A clasp plate for garment holders,

formed of a single piece of substantially flat rigid sheet material, the plate being of greator length than width and being tapered at one end, and being further characterized by an outer marginal port-ion, an inner clasping portion of greater longitudinal than transverse dimension, and two thin cross bars connet-ting the outer and. inner portionsleaving a relatively long V-shaped opening at the tapered end of the plate, and a shorter U- shaped opening at the other end, and said outer-marginal portion having two opposed inward projections extending slightly into said V-shaped opening.

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed.

ROSSITER S. SCOTT.

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